Method and apparatus to effectively reduce a non-active detection gap of an optical sensor

ABSTRACT

An apparatus is provided to effectively reduce the non-active detection gap between sensor elements of an optical sensor. Reducing the non-active gap can subsequently reduce the time delay between sensor elements, mitigating the image degrading effects of a composite element time delay. While applicable to use with a wide range of optical sensors, the invention may be used for detecting aspects of a variable-rate dynamic colorful object using a matrix sensor or a tri-linear color CCD sensor. In one variation, optical fibers extend from a first fiber optic faceplate to a second fiber optic faceplate. The optical fibers can be oriented toward or directly mounted to the sensor elements. A spacer may be used to separate the optical fibers for alignment with the sensor elements and the other end of the optical fibers are attached to each other.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to optical sensors and more specifically relatesto methods and apparatus for redirecting light in order to effectivelyreduce a non-active detection gap between optical sensor elements of oneor more optical sensors.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Optical sensors are used for a wide variety of imaging purposes. Anoptical sensor, such as a linear sensor, may have multiple sensorelements, each of which captures a portion of the light information ofan object or scene of interest. The manufacture of optical sensors mayrequire a non-active gap between these sensor elements. The non-activegap is a portion of the optical sensor that can not detect an opticalsignal. In one example, linear arrays of distinct red, green and bluelight capturing sensor elements are separated by a linear area, thenon-active gap, where the combined sensor is not capable of capturing anoptical signal.

Similarly, optical sensors with one optical sensor element may be usedcollectively with other such sensors to form a larger combined sensor.In such cases, non-active gaps will typically exist between the sensorelements of neighboring sensors.

For many applications that rely upon a predictable rate and distance ofsubject movement, such as, for example, a color imaging scanner, thesize of a non-active gap does not create difficulty in the recording ofsubjects and subsequent accurate replay of images. However, for subjectsthat are dynamic or moving with unpredictable speed and/or distancerelative to the sensor, this non-active gap can cause the inaccuraterecording of an object or scene and result in a significant loss ofimage fidelity.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention concerns methods of ameliorating the problemscaused by non-active gaps. One example of an image sensor havingseparation between sensor elements, e.g. non-active gaps, is thethree-color linear CCD detector that is used for various and extensivecommercial purposes, including color scanners and machine vision.Typically, this optical sensor is constructed with significantnon-active gaps between the linear red, green and blue element arrays.The presence of these non-active gaps may pose little difficulty in highfidelity imaging for many applications. Examples of this type ofapplication include the detection of objects which move at a constantrate along a fixed focal plane and which themselves are not dynamicallyactive, such as a sheet of paper along a scanner. Similarly, thisincludes examples where the object is stationary and the optical sensormoves at a constant rate along a fixed focal plane.

Dynamically active objects moving at variable rates pose a difficulty inhigh fidelity color imaging, particularly when a large depth-of-field isrequired. An example of such a situation is an optical line sensor usedat the finish line of a race or other competition. In such a case, theseparation of sensor elements results in an inaccurate representation ofthe events as the contestants cross the finish line. For instance, thecolor aspects of a competitor, such as the uniform, may be blurred inthe image. This arises as the first sensor detects one color aspect ofthe uniform, for example, red, as the competitor crosses the line andthe subsequent sensors in succession detect other color aspects, suchas, for example, green then blue.

The non-active gap between color sensors therefore presents a time andspace difference in real terms for red, green and blue color informationintended to be recorded simultaneously. It may not be possible toaccurately interpolate such information in the combined red, green andblue color image. This can cause an image to be blurred substantially,to the point where loss of image fidelity is responsible for theinability to determine the outcome of a competition, or even todetermine the distinguishing characteristics of competitors.

The present invention addresses the difficulties of the prior art by theuse of optical fibers oriented to obtain visual images from a field ofview at one location and distribute components of the optical images tomore widely-spaced sensor elements of one or more optical sensors.

This invention effectively reduces the non-active gap between sensorelements and thus reduces the time delay between such sensor elements inreceiving image information, such as for example, the red, green andblue image components of a moving subject. The image fidelity istherefore improved because the combined image components present acloser match to the true image at an instantaneous moment or “snapshot”of interest. In other words, optical congruence may be enhanced by theuse of the invention.

One implementation includes an optical sensor apparatus for effectivelyreducing a non-active gap. The optical sensor may have a first lineararray of sensor segments and a second linear array of sensor segmentsseparated by a first non-active gap having a first width. A firstoptical fiber has a first end oriented toward a field of view and asecond end oriented toward a sensor segment of the first linear array ofsensor segments. A second optical fiber has a first end oriented towardthe field of view and located a first distance, less than the firstwidth, from the first end of the first optical fiber and a second endoriented toward a sensor segment of the second linear array of sensorsegments. This effectively reduces the distance between correspondingelements of the first and second linear arrays and therefore enhancesthe optical congruence of the first linear array in relation to thesecond linear array.

An optical sensor system for effectively reducing a non-active gap mayhave a tri-linear optical sensor with a first linear sensor element anda second linear sensor element separated by a first non-active gap witha first width. A third linear sensor element separated from the secondlinear sensor element by a second non-active gap having a second widthcan also be included. First, second and third optical fibers each havetheir first end oriented toward the field of view and the second endoriented toward the linear sensor elements. The second optical fiber islocated a first distance, less than the first width, from the first endof the first optical fiber. The third optical fiber is located a thirddistance, less than the second width, from the first end of the secondoptical fiber.

An apparatus for effectively reducing a non-active gap of an opticalsensor may include a first and second fiber optic faceplate eachconfigured to accommodate a plurality of optical fibers. A first andsecond optical fibers of the plurality of optical fibers each have afirst end mounted to the first fiber optic faceplate and a second endmounted to the second fiber optic faceplate. The first end of the secondoptical fiber is mounted to the first fiber optic faceplate a firstdistance, less than the non-active gap, from the first end of the firstoptical fiber, and the second end of the second optical fiber is mountedto the second fiber optic faceplate such that the second end of thefirst optical fiber and the second end of the second optical fiber arespaced to align with a first linear array and a second linear array,respectively, of a multiple-linear array image sensor.

The separation of the second ends of the optical fibers may involve atleast one spacer for proper positioning. The apparatus for effectivelyreducing a non-active gap of an optical sensor may have a first opticalfiber and a second optical fiber are mounted such that a first end ofthe each optical fiber is oriented toward the field of view and thesecond end is directed towards a sensor. A first spacer is mountedbetween the second end of the first optical fiber and the second end ofthe second optical fiber to locate the second ends further apart thanthe first ends so as to correspond to elements of an optical sensor.

The invention also provides a method of effectively reducing anon-active gap of an optical sensor. The optical sensor has a firstlinear sensor element and a second linear sensor element separated by afirst non-active gap having a first width and a third linear sensorelement separated from the second linear sensor element by a secondnon-active gap of a second width. A first end of each optical fiber isoriented toward the field of view and the second end of each opticalfiber is oriented toward the first, second and third linear sensorelements, respectively. The first end of a second optical fiber islocated a first distance, less than the first width, from the first endof the first optical fiber and the first end of a third optical fiber islocated a third distance, less than the second width, from the first endof the second optical fiber. Using this method, the optical congruenceof said linear sensors may be enhanced in relation to each other.

The apparatus effectively reduces a non-active gap of an optical sensoror sensors. The apparatus gathers light information at or near a fieldof view and directs the image information to at least two linear sensorelements of an optical sensor so as to improve the image fidelity of thesubject by enhancing the optical congruence capability of the opticalsensor at an instantaneous or “photographic” time of interest.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 illustrates a top view of an optical sensor system orientedtoward the field of view;

FIG. 2 illustrates a side view of the optical sensor system of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3A & 3B illustrate first and second fiber optic faceplates of agap reduction apparatus;

FIG. 4 illustrates sample pixel configurations of the first and secondfiber optic faceplates of FIGS. 3A and 3B;

FIG. 5 illustrates a gap reduction apparatus arranging one end ofoptical fibers in a single column;

FIG. 6 illustrates an optical sensor;

FIG. 7 illustrates an optical sensor system having a gap reductionapparatus according to an alternative embodiment of the presentinvention; and

FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate example manufacturing steps that may be usedfor the construction of the gap reduction apparatus of FIG. 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention addresses the difficulties of the prior art by the use ofoptical fibers oriented to obtain visual images from a field of view anddistribute components of the optical images to more widely-spaced sensorelements of one or more optical sensors. This can enhance the opticalcongruence of the image obtained through the more widely-spaced sensorelements and eliminate inaccuracies caused by non-active optical gaps inthe sensors. The image fidelity of a subject can be improved at aninstantaneous or “photographic” time of interest by reducing thepotential image degrading effects between the sensor elements. Suchimage degrading effects can include a differential time delay, angularand/or positional differences between the sensor elements. Specifically,optical congruence is enhanced in that the image information received byeach sensor element at any instantaneous time is a closer representationof the original subject field than it would be if the sensor elementsreceived image information directly from the field of view withoutnon-active gap mitigation. Thus, the invention compensates for the imagedegrading effects, more severe in dynamically moving objects, that arisefrom the ordinarily non-active gap between sensor elements.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a gap reduction apparatus 100 is used with anoptical sensor 200 in order to obtain an optical image over a field ofview 10. The gap reduction apparatus 100 and the optical sensor 200 forman optical sensor system 300. Lenses 150 or other optical elements mayoptionally be incorporated into the optical sensor system 300. Forexample one or more lenses 150 may be located between the field of view10 and the gap reduction apparatus 100 and/or between the gap reductionapparatus 100 and the optical sensor system 300.

As used herein, the term “non-active gap” relates to the separationbetween sensor elements of one or more optical sensors. Each sensorelement of an optical sensor is active in that it is able to opticallydetect light at the location of the sensor element.

The term “sensor element” relates to a plurality of sensor segmentsarranged in a group. Examples of sensor elements include, but are notlimited to, a linear array of sensor segments, and a matrix sensor, or asubset of sensor segments of a matrix sensor.

The term “segment” relates to any portion, such as a pixel or otheridentifiable sub-unit, of the sensor elements of the optical sensor 200.

The space between each sensor element is typically caused bymanufacturing limitations. This space is non-active in that the opticalsensor is not able to detect light at locations between the sensorelements. The present invention serves to minimize the detrimentaleffects of this non-active gap, while not physically altering thedimensions of the non-active gap. The present apparatus and method aresuitable for use with a wide range of non-active gaps.

The apparatus and method may also be used with separate optical sensors,each having one or more sensor elements. In such a case, the methodinvolves directing light from a field of view to each of the multiplesensor elements located on one or more optical sensors and separated byat least one non-active gap.

As shown in FIG. 2, the gap reduction apparatus 100 may be formed of afirst fiber optic faceplate 110 and a second fiber optic faceplate 120.The first fiber optic faceplate 110 and a second fiber optic faceplate120 are optically coupled by optical fibers 130. In one implementation,the optical fibers 130 may be oriented to correspond with sensorelements of an optical sensor 200. The present invention is suitable foruse with a wide variety of optical sensors 200.

The gap reduction apparatus 100 serves to orient ends of the opticalfibers close together at the first fiber optic faceplate 110. Oppositeends of the optical fibers 130 are then arranged on the second fiberoptic faceplate 120 so as to correspond with the sensor elements of theoptical sensor 200.

FIGS. 3A, 3B, 4 and 5 illustrate the gap reduction apparatus 100 andoptical sensor 200. As shown in FIG. 3A, the first fiber optic faceplate110 is shown having a first element 112, a second element 114 and athird element 116. Each of these elements is formed of segmentsillustratively shown in the third element 116 by pixel 118.

The first, second and third elements 112, 114, 116 are shown as beinglocated contiguous to each other, thereby minimizing any separationbetween them. However, the first, second and third elements 112, 114,116 may be separated from each other by similar or different distances.The ends of the optical fibers 130 that are coupled to the second fiberoptic faceplate 120 are further separated from each other than the endsof the optical fiber 130 coupled to the first fiber optic faceplate 110.Therefore, the distance between each of the first, second and thirdelements 112, 114, 116 is smaller than the non-active gap of an opticalsensor optionally interfacing with the second fiber optic faceplate 120.Although the pixels and optical fibers are illustrated herein as square,optical fibers may also be, and typically are, of round or any otherarbitrary shape.

As shown in FIGS. 3A, 3B and 4, distance A represents the width of anoptical segment. If distance A is about 14 microns, the overalldimensions of the first fiber optic faceplate 110 are approximately 3centimeters by 2 centimeters. However, a wide range of dimensions andsizes of optical fibers 130 and faceplates 110 are possible.

The second fiber optic faceplate 120 is illustrated in FIG. 3B. Similarto the first fiber optic faceplate 110, the second fiber optic faceplate120 has a first element 212, a second element 214 and a third element216. An average size for distance B is 98 microns. As discussed above,the invention is suitable to a wide range of dimensions.

The overall dimensions of the second fiber optic faceplate 120 may besimilar to those of the first fiber optic faceplate 110. The first fiberoptic faceplate 110 may be sized so as to be no larger than thearrangement of optical fibers 130 mounted thereon. Considerationsinvolved in sizing the second fiber optic faceplate 120 involveinterfacing the second fiber optic faceplate 120 with the optic sensor200 and specifically, the sensor elements of the optical sensor 200.

FIG. 4 illustrates the optical fibers 130 mounted between the firstfiber optic faceplate 110 and the second fiber optic faceplate 120. Afirst optical fiber 132, a second optical fiber 134 and a third opticalfiber 136 are shown for illustrative purposes only as corresponding tothe upper-most pixels of the elements of the fiber optic faceplates.Specifically, the first optical fiber 132 is mounted to a first element112 of the first fiber optic faceplate 110 and the first element 212 ofthe second fiber optic faceplate 120. Alternatively, the apparatus andmethod may include coupling different elements among the fiber opticfaceplates. For example, the first element 112 of the first fiber opticfaceplate 110 may be coupled to the third element 216 of the secondfiber optic faceplate 120.

Also, for purposes of illustration, the optical fibers 130 are drawn ascorresponding only to the top row of pixels. Each pixel of the firstfiber optic faceplate 110 may be optically coupled by the use of anoptical fiber 130 to a pixel of the second fiber optic faceplate 120.However, pixels of different rows may be optically coupled to pixels ofother rows among fiber optic faceplates. For example, a top pixel of thefirst element 112 of the first fiber optic faceplate 110 may be coupledto a pixel approximately half way along the length of the second element214 of the second fiber optic faceplate 120.

Similarly, one or more matrix optical sensors may be used. In such avariation, one or more sensor elements may be formed of segments of oneor more matrix sensors.

The optical fibers 130 may be mounted to the fiber optic faceplates 110,120 by the use of an adhesive, such as glue, or by the use of a gridsized to hold the ends of the optical fibers 130 without the use of anadhesive, such as by the use of a compressive force. A compressive forcemay be applied by the use of a band, clamp, frame or similar structure.

As noted, color filters may be used in conjunction with the opticalfibers 130 so as to limit the colors to a particular sensor element. Asillustrated in FIG. 4, color filters 139 are mounted on optical fibers130 so as to limit the transmission of various colors through theoptical fibers 130. A wide variety of other filtering arrangements arealso within the scope of the invention. For example, a sheet filter maybe coupled to the second fiber optic faceplate 120 and arranged with oneof the elements 212, 214, 216 of the second fiber optic faceplate 120.By the use of such color filtering, a black and white optical sensor 200having multiple sensor elements is capable of producing a color image.Specifically, by using color filters 139, each black and white sensorelement 222, 224, 226 is assigned a color. Therefore, by filtering theoptical images read by each of the sensor elements and assigning a colorto each image based on its associated color filter, such as, forexample, red, green or blue, a resulting composite color image can becreated, equivalent to an image obtained by a color optical sensor.

The spacing and configuration of the mounting of the optical fibers 130on the second fiber optic faceplate 120 may be adapted to correspond tothe arrangement of the sensor elements 222, 224, 226 on the face 201 ofthe optical sensor 200. Alternatively, and the apparatus may includeoptical fibers mounted to the second fiber optic faceplate 120 that donot correspond to a sensor element of the optical sensor. Suchadditional optical fibers may be ignored by the optical sensor and/ormay be used for other signaling or communication purposes.

The second fiber optic faceplate 120 may be securely mounted to theoptical sensor 200 by the use of brackets or an adhesive. There is norequirement that the first fiber optic faceplate be securely mounted toeither the second fiber optic faceplate or the optical sensor 200, asthe optical fibers 130 allow for relative movement of the first fiberoptic faceplate 110. Ideally, the first fiber optic faceplate 110 willbe securely mounted to a frame that provides a stable orientation towardthe field of view 10.

The second fiber optic faceplate 120 may be omitted, allowing directmounting of the optical fibers 130 to the sensor elements 222, 224, 226of the optical sensor 200.

FIG. 5 illustrates a gap reduction apparatus 100 having a first fiberoptic faceplate 111 used with a second fiber optic faceplate 120,coupled by optical fibers 130. The first fiber optic faceplate 111arranges the ends of the optical fibers 130 in a single column. Theoptical fibers 130 may be randomly arranged in a single column or mayalternate among each of the columns provided in the second fiber opticfaceplate 120. Color filters may also be used as well.

FIG. 6 illustrates a sample optical sensor 200 having sensor elementsarranged linearly. Specifically, a first sensor element 222, a secondsensor element 224, and a third sensor element 226 are provided on aface 201 of the optic sensor 200. The optical sensor 200 may be atri-linear CCD image sensor such as the Kodak 2098×3 Tri-Linear CCDimage sensor, model number: KLI-2113, manufactured by Eastman KodakCompany. The optical sensor 200 may be a color optical sensor, a matrixsensor and/or may be black and white.

The apparatus may also use at least one spacer. An optical sensor system500, as illustrated in FIG. 7, includes a gap reduction apparatus 400 ina block structure formed by the use of spacers 440 to arrange opticalfibers 130 to correspond to sensor elements 222, 224, 226 of opticalsensor 200, as discussed above. At an opposite end of optical fibers130, the optical fibers are ideally arranged proximate to each so as tominimize a separation between them, thereby minimizing the separation ofthe optical image obtained. Although spacers 440 are illustrated in FIG.7 as wedges extending along the length the optical fibers 130, this isnot necessary. Specifically, spacers 440 may be used only at the end ofthe optical fiber approximate to the optical sensor 200. Furthermore,the spacers 440 may be in a variety of shapes, such a rectangular block,a square block, an oval or any other arbitrary shape able to separateoptical fibers. Spacers may be formed of a wide variety of materials,including, but not limited to the following: plastics, glass, metals,composites, paper or other wood products.

The gap reduction apparatus 400 of FIG. 7 may be formed so as to arrangeone end of the optical fibers in a single column as illustrated withrespect to the first fiber optic faceplate 111 of FIG. 5.

The gap reduction apparatus 400 may use adhesive to mount the opticalfibers 130 to each other at a side 402 distant from the optical sensor200 and to mount the optical fibers 130 to the one or more spacers 440and to each other at a side 404 approximately to the optical sensor 200.Alternatively, other forms of mounting optical fibers 130 to each otherand/or to the spacers 440 may be used to form a block structure.Examples include a band or frame surrounding at least one end of the gapreduction apparatus 400 or a compressive wrapping arranged to maintainthe configuration of the sides 402, 404 of the gap reduction apparatus.Another example involves fusing of the optical fibers 130 to each other.

One example of construction of the gap reduction apparatus 400 of FIG. 7is illustrated by way of example in FIGS. 8 and 9. As shown in FIG. 8,the spacers 440 are mounted to optical elements 312, 314, 316. Accordingto various implementations, the spacers are mounted with the opticalelements 312, 314, 316 by fusing and/or injection molding manufacturetechniques. The spacers 440 are then ground down in the grinding areas450 to shape the spacers 440 to position a first element 312, a secondelement 314 and a third element 316. The spacers 440 form componentsthat may be assembled as shown in FIG. 9 such that a first end 322, 324,326 of the elements 312, 314, 316 may be aligned with elements of anoptical sensor and a second end 332, 334, 336 of the elements 312, 314,316 may be oriented toward a field of view, such as, for example, afocal plane. Optionally, a mirrored surface 460 may be provided alongouter side surfaces to inhibit the entry of light through the outer sidesurfaces.

The gap reduction apparatus 400 of FIG. 9 may be coupled together by theuse of epoxy or heat treatment and optionally may be ground down alongthe dashed lines 350 to conform to the dimensions of an optical sensoror other optical components used in conjunction with the gap reductionapparatus 400.

It is understood that embodiments of the invention may be implemented ina wide variety of scales, such as by using large optical fibers or bythe use of nanotechnology manufacturing techniques. According to oneimplementation, optical fibers of 14 microns in diameter are used. Inanother implementation, 5 micron diameter fibers are used.

These examples are meant to be illustrative and not limiting. Thepresent invention has been described by way of example, andmodifications of the exemplary embodiments, implementations andvariations will suggest themselves to skilled artisans in this fieldwithout departing from the spirit of the invention. Aspects andcharacteristics of the above-described embodiments, implementations andvariations may be used in combination. The scope of the invention is tobe measured by the appended claims, rather than the precedingdescription, and all variations and equivalents that fall within therange of the claims are intended to be embraced therein.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new and protected byLetters Patent is:

1. An optical sensor apparatus for effectively reducing a non-activegap, comprising: an optical sensor having a first linear array of sensorsegments and a second linear array of sensor segments separated by afirst non-active gap having a first width; a first optical fiber havinga first end oriented toward a field of view and a second end orientedtoward a sensor segment of said first linear array of sensor segments;and a second optical fiber having a first end oriented toward said fieldof view and located a first distance, less than said first width, fromsaid first end of said first optical fiber and a second end orientedtoward a sensor segment of said second linear array of sensor segments,thereby enhancing optical congruence of said first linear array andsecond linear array in relation to each other.
 2. The optical sensorapparatus of claim 1, wherein said optical sensor has a third lineararray of sensor segments separated from said second linear array ofsensor segments by a second non-active gap having a second width, saidoptical sensor apparatus further comprising: a third optical fiberhaving a first end oriented toward said field of view and located athird distance, less than said second width, from said first end of saidsecond optical fiber and a second end oriented toward a sensor segmentof said third linear array of sensor segments.
 3. The optical sensorapparatus of claim 2, further comprising: a first color filterpositioned to filter light reaching said first linear array of sensorsegments; a second color filter, different from said first color filter,positioned to filter light reaching said second linear array of sensorsegments; a third color filter, different from said first color filterand said second color filter, positioned to filter light reaching saidthird linear array of sensor segments.
 4. The optical sensor apparatusof claim 2, further comprising a first fiber optic faceplate configuredto accommodate said first end of said first optical fiber and said firstend of said second optical fiber.
 5. The optical sensor apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein said first ends of said first and second optical fibersare arranged in a single column.
 6. The optical sensor apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein said optical fibers are mounted within a blockstructure.
 7. The optical sensor apparatus of claim 1, wherein saidfield of view is along a plane intersecting said first end of said firstoptical fiber and said first end of said second optical fiber.
 8. Theoptical sensor apparatus of claim 1, wherein said optical sensor is alinear sensor.
 9. The optical sensor apparatus of claim 1, wherein saidoptical sensor is a tri-linear sensor having three sensor elements. 10.The optical sensor apparatus of claim 1, wherein said optical sensor isat least one matrix sensor.
 11. The optical sensor apparatus of claim 1,wherein said optical sensor comprises at least one linear array formedon a matrix sensor.
 12. The optical sensor apparatus of claim 1, whereinsaid optical sensor comprises three linear arrays formed on a matrixsensor.
 13. The optical sensor apparatus of claim 1, wherein said secondend of said first optical fiber is mounted to said sensor segment ofsaid first linear array of sensor segments and said second end of saidsecond optical fiber is mounted to said sensor segment of said secondlinear array of sensor segments.
 14. The optical sensor apparatus ofclaim 1, further comprising at least one lens, located between saidfield of view and said first ends of said first optical fiber and saidsecond optical fiber.
 15. An optical sensor apparatus for effectivelyreducing a non-active gap, comprising: a tri-linear optical sensorhaving a first linear sensor element and a second linear sensor elementseparated by a first non-active gap having a first width and a thirdlinear sensor element separated from said second linear sensor elementby a second non-active gap having a second width; a first optical fiberhaving a first end oriented toward a field of view and a second endoriented toward a sensor segment of said first linear sensor element; asecond optical fiber having a first end oriented toward said field ofview and located a first distance, less than said first width, from saidfirst end of said first optical fiber and a second end oriented toward asensor segment of said second linear sensor element; a third opticalfiber having a first end oriented toward said field of view and locateda third distance, less than said second width, from said first end ofsaid second optical fiber and a second end oriented toward a sensorsegment of said third linear sensor element.
 16. The optical sensorapparatus of claim 15, wherein said first optical fiber includes aplurality of first optical fibers and said second optical fiber includesa plurality of second optical fibers and said third optical fiberincludes a plurality of third optical fibers.
 17. The optical sensorapparatus of claim 15, wherein said first ends of said first, second andthird optical fibers are arranged in a single column.
 18. The opticalsensor apparatus of claim 15, wherein said second end of said firstoptical fiber is mounted to said sensor segment of said first linearsensor element, said second end of said second optical fiber is mountedto said sensor segment of said second linear sensor element and saidsecond end of said third optical fiber is mounted to said sensor segmentof said third linear sensor element.
 19. An apparatus for effectivelyreducing a non-active gap of an optical sensor, comprising: a firstfiber optic faceplate configured to accommodate a plurality of opticalfibers; a second fiber optic faceplate configured to accommodate saidplurality of optical fibers; a first optical fiber of said plurality ofoptical fibers having a first end mounted to said first fiber opticfaceplate and a second end mounted to said second fiber optic faceplate;a second optical fiber of said plurality of optical fibers having afirst end mounted to said first fiber optic faceplate a first distance,less than said non-active gap, from said first optical fiber and saidsecond optical fiber having a second end mounted to said second fiberoptic faceplate such that said second end of said first optical fiberand said second end of said second optical fiber are spaced to alignwith a first linear array and a second linear array, respectively, ofsaid optical sensor.
 20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein saidplurality of optical fibers includes a plurality of said first opticalfibers and a plurality of said second optical fibers.
 21. The apparatusof claim 19, further comprising a third optical fiber of said pluralityof optical fibers having a first end mounted to said first fiber opticfaceplate a distance from said first end of said second optical fiberless than said non-active gap, a second end mounted to said second fiberoptic faceplate such that said second end of said third optical fiber islocated to align with a third linear array of said optical sensor. 22.The apparatus of claim 21, wherein said first ends of said first, secondand third optical fibers are arranged in a single column.
 23. Theapparatus of claim 19, wherein said first ends of said first opticalfiber and said second optical fiber are mounted normal to a plane formedby said first fiber optic faceplate and said second ends of said firstoptical fiber and said second optical fiber are mounted normal to aplane formed by said second fiber optic faceplate.
 24. The apparatus ofclaim 19, further comprising said optical sensor mounted to said secondfiber optic faceplate.
 25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein saidoptical sensor is a tri-linear CCD image sensor.
 26. The apparatus ofclaim 24, wherein said optical sensor is at least one matrix sensor. 27.The apparatus of claim 24, wherein said optical sensor comprises atleast one linear array formed on a matrix sensor.
 28. The apparatus ofclaim 19, further comprising a plurality of color filters used with saidplurality of optical fibers so as to separate colors provided to saidarrays of said optical sensor.
 29. An apparatus for effectively reducinga non-active gap of an optical sensor, comprising: a first optical fiberand a second optical fiber mounted to each other such that a first endof said first optical fiber and a first end of said second optical fiberare oriented toward a field of view; and a first spacer mounted betweena second end of said first optical fiber and a second end of said secondoptical fiber to locate said second end of said first optical fiber andsaid second end of said second optical fiber further apart than saidfirst end of said first optical fiber and said first end of said secondoptical fiber and to correspond to elements of an optical sensor. 30.The apparatus of claim 29, further comprising, a second spacer; and athird optical fiber having a first end oriented toward said field ofview and a second end located such that said second end of said thirdoptical fiber and said second end of said second optical fiber arefurther apart than said first end of said third optical fiber and saidfirst end of said second optical fiber and to correspond to elements ofan optical sensor; wherein said optical sensor is a tri-linear opticalsensor.
 31. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein said first ends of saidfirst second and third optical fibers are arranged in a single column.32. The apparatus of claim 29, further comprising a plurality of colorfilters used with said optical fibers so as to separate colors providedto said elements of said optical sensor.
 33. The apparatus of claim 24,wherein said optical sensor is a tri-linear CCD image sensor.
 34. Theapparatus of claim 19, wherein said optical sensor is at least onematrix sensor.
 35. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said opticalsensor comprises at least one linear array formed on a matrix sensor.36. A method of effectively reducing a non-active gap of an opticalsensor, comprising the steps of: providing an optical sensor having afirst linear sensor element and a second linear sensor element separatedby a first non-active gap having a first width and a third linear sensorelement separated from said second linear sensor element by a secondnon-active gap having a second width; orienting a first end of a firstoptical fiber toward a field of view; orienting a second end of saidfirst optical fiber toward said first linear sensor element; locating afirst end of a second optical fiber a first distance, less than saidfirst width, from said first end of said first optical fiber andoriented toward said field of view; orienting a second end of saidsecond optical fiber toward said second linear sensor element; locatinga first end of a third optical fiber a third distance, less than saidsecond width, from said first end of said second optical fiber andoriented toward said field of view; orienting a second end of said thirdoptical fiber toward said third linear sensor element; wherein opticalcongruence of said first linear sensor, said second linear sensor andsaid third linear sensor are enhanced in relation to each other.
 37. Themethod of claim 36, further comprising the step of providing a pluralityof color filters used with said optical fibers so as to separate colorsprovided to said elements of said optical sensor.
 38. The method ofclaim 36, wherein said optical sensor is a tri-linear CCD image sensor.39. The method of claim 36, wherein said optical sensor is at least onematrix sensor.
 40. The method of claim 36, wherein said optical sensorcomprises at least one linear array formed on a matrix sensor.
 41. Theoptical sensor apparatus of claim 36, wherein said second end of saidfirst optical fiber is mounted to said first linear sensor element, saidsecond end of said second optical fiber is mounted to said second linearsensor element and said second end of said third optical fiber ismounted to said third linear sensor element.
 42. An apparatus foreffectively reducing a non-active gap of an optical sensor, comprising:means for obtaining optical information from a field of view; means fororienting said optical information to at least two linear sensorelements of at least one optical sensor so as to enhance an opticalcongruence capability of said optical sensor.
 43. The apparatus of claim42, further comprising means for positioning said means for obtaining inrelation to said optical sensor.